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There's Something I Have to Tell You
HOME IS WHERE THE SECRETS ARE BURIED
When two bodies are found on Glenbeg Farm, the local community is reeling. Wealthy matriarch Ursula Kennedy and her farmer husband Jimmy seem to have died in a tragic accident. But who knows what happens behind the closed doors of a family home?
Rob, the Kennedys' eldest son, gave up a high-flying legal career to help with the family business. Given the recent tensions with his parents about money, is he really as distraught as he seems?
Rob's wife Kate struggled with Ursula's controlling nature - it must be a relief to have her out of the picture now. And Christina, the victims' fragile daughter, has been struggling to keep a long-buried secret. Police suspicions begin to grow. And before long, the Kennedys' many toxic secrets start to come to the surface...
When two bodies are found on Glenbeg Farm, the local community is reeling. Wealthy matriarch Ursula Kennedy and her farmer husband Jimmy seem to have died in a tragic accident. But who knows what happens behind the closed doors of a family home?
Rob, the Kennedys' eldest son, gave up a high-flying legal career to help with the family business. Given the recent tensions with his parents about money, is he really as distraught as he seems?
Rob's wife Kate struggled with Ursula's controlling nature - it must be a relief to have her out of the picture now. And Christina, the victims' fragile daughter, has been struggling to keep a long-buried secret. Police suspicions begin to grow. And before long, the Kennedys' many toxic secrets start to come to the surface...
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First published April 13, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
July 30, 2023
The basic storyline is that Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy are found in the slurry tank on their farm. No one knows what happened or why they ended up there. Did it have something to do with Jimmy's dementia? Or something much worse? Is there a killer on the farm?
Michelle McDonagh provides us with a compelling family saga in which you begin to wonder who wouldn't have wanted to murder Ursula. She's a character that's really quite satisfying to dislike. The story itself is cleverly constructed giving us background on all the relationships and quite why tensions were so high with all the family members.
I've edited this review quite heavily after having had a short chat with the author, who says she didn't see this as a thriller/whodunnit but rather as a dark family drama. I think it works much better for me knowing this. When you think something is a thriller you approach it in a different way to a dark family story.
Highly recommended.
Michelle McDonagh provides us with a compelling family saga in which you begin to wonder who wouldn't have wanted to murder Ursula. She's a character that's really quite satisfying to dislike. The story itself is cleverly constructed giving us background on all the relationships and quite why tensions were so high with all the family members.
I've edited this review quite heavily after having had a short chat with the author, who says she didn't see this as a thriller/whodunnit but rather as a dark family drama. I think it works much better for me knowing this. When you think something is a thriller you approach it in a different way to a dark family story.
Highly recommended.
Read
May 8, 2023There’s Something I Have To Tell You by Michelle McDonagh is a rural noir murder mystery, with similarities to an Irish true crime many will be familiar with from a few years ago.
On a seemingly normal day on Glenbeg farm, Ursula and her husband Jimmy are found dead in the slurry pit. Their daughter Christina, son Rob, and his wife Kate are immediately thrown into a living nightmare. Jimmy had recently shown signs of memory loss but could that have somehow caused him to fall in? Even so, that wouldn’t explain how Ursula met her untimely end.
As the Gardaí investigate further, family secrets come to the surface and no one is immune from suspicion.
I really enjoyed this gripping read. I find a lot of the time with murder mysteries, there’s rarely character development as thorough as in this book. There’s full back stories for all the main players, so the reader truly gets to know them and what makes them tick.
There are some murkier elements to the storyline (I’ll add in content warnings in the comments) but sadly these felt very realistic for a modern Irish setting. I spotted @sharon.read.this mention in her review that this feels like a darker version of Graham Norton’s writing, and I’d fully agree with that. Both authors capture the Irish psyche well and are adept at depicting family drama where all is not as it seems.
I really struggled to predict the ending on this one, and I failed miserably! I was still guessing right up to the end 😅😅
This is the author’s debut novel and I’m looking forward to reading more from Michelle McDonagh in the future. This is an engaging story that will appeal to fans of well-constructed murder mysteries, with the added bonus of a focus on rural Ireland.
With thanks to Hachette Ireland for providing me with my copy.
On a seemingly normal day on Glenbeg farm, Ursula and her husband Jimmy are found dead in the slurry pit. Their daughter Christina, son Rob, and his wife Kate are immediately thrown into a living nightmare. Jimmy had recently shown signs of memory loss but could that have somehow caused him to fall in? Even so, that wouldn’t explain how Ursula met her untimely end.
As the Gardaí investigate further, family secrets come to the surface and no one is immune from suspicion.
I really enjoyed this gripping read. I find a lot of the time with murder mysteries, there’s rarely character development as thorough as in this book. There’s full back stories for all the main players, so the reader truly gets to know them and what makes them tick.
There are some murkier elements to the storyline (I’ll add in content warnings in the comments) but sadly these felt very realistic for a modern Irish setting. I spotted @sharon.read.this mention in her review that this feels like a darker version of Graham Norton’s writing, and I’d fully agree with that. Both authors capture the Irish psyche well and are adept at depicting family drama where all is not as it seems.
I really struggled to predict the ending on this one, and I failed miserably! I was still guessing right up to the end 😅😅
This is the author’s debut novel and I’m looking forward to reading more from Michelle McDonagh in the future. This is an engaging story that will appeal to fans of well-constructed murder mysteries, with the added bonus of a focus on rural Ireland.
With thanks to Hachette Ireland for providing me with my copy.
April 11, 2023
A dark family drama / physiological thriller set on Glenbeg Farm, Galway. Every family in Ireland have experienced some kind of drama at some point which helps the reader really connect with this well written novel. The story unfolds after the bodies Ursula and Jimmy are found and an investigation unfolds which uncovers dark family secrets that were never meant to be found out. What transpires throughout the book is excellently written and constructed, you will get to know each character and with every chapter the plot thickens. The author weaves the various strands so well together and you are left wondering how it will all come together and of course it does so brilliantly. A must read and a winner from first time author Michelle McDonagh 👏
May 8, 2023
Initially gripping, and very interesting but the last 100 pages really let it down for me. Between the all too predictable twist, and the murky characters there was nothing to enjoy. However, I could forgive all that if the book didn’t perpetuate the really dangerous myth that children who are abused go on to be bad people themselves, either narcissists who allow their children to be abused and protect the abuser, or abusers themselves. It’s hard enough for people who have been abused to live in the world, without this dangerous stereotype. That really let me down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2023
I received this book from Hachette Ireland in exchange for an honest review.
When elderly farmer Jimmy Kennedy is found dead in his slurry pit, everyone thinks it must have been a tragic farm accident. But questions are raised when it turns out Jimmy's wife and local business woman Ursula was also pulled from the tank. The double death shocks the community and the remaining Kennedy family but it also appears that things were not rosy at home and the Kennedy clan were keeping secrets from one another that may have turned deadly.
This was a well-written and fairly gripping book that I don't think I'd necessarily describe as extremely thrilling but definitely kept me interested and in suspense for new reveals about the characters and the family history, and always keeping the question open about who killed Jimmy and Ursula. I really liked the rural setting and I think Michelle McDonagh set up the Kennedy farm, restaurant and farm park really well and the story evolved really nicely too - it was well-paced with just enough little truth bombs here and there for readers to pick on and begin to form their own opinions about what was going on.
I don't think I was really shocked about anything that was revealed in the story as I think there were enough hints early on to figure out some of the reasons behind certain behaviours and actions. I just really enjoyed reading along with the story, and seeing how everything came together and there was also a small satisfaction in seeing how everyone's lives improved following the tragic event.
When elderly farmer Jimmy Kennedy is found dead in his slurry pit, everyone thinks it must have been a tragic farm accident. But questions are raised when it turns out Jimmy's wife and local business woman Ursula was also pulled from the tank. The double death shocks the community and the remaining Kennedy family but it also appears that things were not rosy at home and the Kennedy clan were keeping secrets from one another that may have turned deadly.
This was a well-written and fairly gripping book that I don't think I'd necessarily describe as extremely thrilling but definitely kept me interested and in suspense for new reveals about the characters and the family history, and always keeping the question open about who killed Jimmy and Ursula. I really liked the rural setting and I think Michelle McDonagh set up the Kennedy farm, restaurant and farm park really well and the story evolved really nicely too - it was well-paced with just enough little truth bombs here and there for readers to pick on and begin to form their own opinions about what was going on.
I don't think I was really shocked about anything that was revealed in the story as I think there were enough hints early on to figure out some of the reasons behind certain behaviours and actions. I just really enjoyed reading along with the story, and seeing how everything came together and there was also a small satisfaction in seeing how everyone's lives improved following the tragic event.
September 18, 2023
Definitely a page turner, a very easy read interesting and entertaining, and always keeps the reader curious. Lot's of fun to read a mystery set in modern rural Ireland, there should be more of them!
The characters are a bit one-dimensional, though, and I get a slight undercurrent of disapproval of working mothers running through it, the only feminist ideas here come from the mouth of the villain. There are also hints that the author has very particular ideas about what a "normal" person's life should or should not be; ie, a married life is a "normal" life and a single one isn't. So entertained as I certainly was, I do have some conflicted feelings about it.
The characters are a bit one-dimensional, though, and I get a slight undercurrent of disapproval of working mothers running through it, the only feminist ideas here come from the mouth of the villain. There are also hints that the author has very particular ideas about what a "normal" person's life should or should not be; ie, a married life is a "normal" life and a single one isn't. So entertained as I certainly was, I do have some conflicted feelings about it.
October 17, 2023
The news is so depressing and distressing at the moment. Far from ignoring it, I am consuming all of it while also trying to ensure it doesn't consume me. Reading as ever is proving a good distraction.
I'm working my way through my shelf from 2023, catching up on galleys, arcs and books purchased but unread. Michelle McDonagh's debut novel, published in April this year, is one I've been meaning to get to for ages, and now that I've read it, I can understand the rave reviews.
There's Something I Have to Tell You is rural Irish drama at its finest. Set in the West of Ireland, the story centres on the wealthy Kennedy family from the fictional town of Glenbeg in Co Galway. Matriach Ursula has been found dead in the slurry pit of the family farm, together with her husband Jimmy. Has a tragic accident befallen the couple or is there more to it than meets the eye?
A well-plotted, nicely written pageturner awaits those of you who haven't read this one yet. The characters are so well realised and the secrecy and lies that are woven into the story ring true - the "say nothing" approach that is so prevalent in Irish life, and especially in past decades. (An anecdote: an Irish girl I worked with in an Irish pub in Germany years ago had a motto: "Say nothin' to no one 'til ya hear more, and when ya hear more, keep it to yourself"). Highly recommend this one - a cut above the regular thriller in my humble opinion. I look forward to reading more from this author. Several other reviewers have said this, but I think fans of Graham Norton's books would enjoy this one. 4/5 stars
*I was very kindly sent a copy of the book by @hachetteireland @elaineganbooks but as always, this is an honest review. There's Something I Have to Tell You is available in all good bookshops and is also on Kindle special at the moment for 99c.
I'm working my way through my shelf from 2023, catching up on galleys, arcs and books purchased but unread. Michelle McDonagh's debut novel, published in April this year, is one I've been meaning to get to for ages, and now that I've read it, I can understand the rave reviews.
There's Something I Have to Tell You is rural Irish drama at its finest. Set in the West of Ireland, the story centres on the wealthy Kennedy family from the fictional town of Glenbeg in Co Galway. Matriach Ursula has been found dead in the slurry pit of the family farm, together with her husband Jimmy. Has a tragic accident befallen the couple or is there more to it than meets the eye?
A well-plotted, nicely written pageturner awaits those of you who haven't read this one yet. The characters are so well realised and the secrecy and lies that are woven into the story ring true - the "say nothing" approach that is so prevalent in Irish life, and especially in past decades. (An anecdote: an Irish girl I worked with in an Irish pub in Germany years ago had a motto: "Say nothin' to no one 'til ya hear more, and when ya hear more, keep it to yourself"). Highly recommend this one - a cut above the regular thriller in my humble opinion. I look forward to reading more from this author. Several other reviewers have said this, but I think fans of Graham Norton's books would enjoy this one. 4/5 stars
*I was very kindly sent a copy of the book by @hachetteireland @elaineganbooks but as always, this is an honest review. There's Something I Have to Tell You is available in all good bookshops and is also on Kindle special at the moment for 99c.
July 11, 2023
Absolutely loved this. What a debut. I cannot wait to read her next work. It had me gripped right until the very end. Well done!!
September 30, 2023
The best Dark Family drama I have read this year
December 6, 2023
I'm sorry to the author but this was genuinely just so badly written, characters surface deep, deployment of language woeful, and plot so needlessly dragged out it was just annoying in the end
February 18, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this dark family drama set in a modern Irish farm. Amidst the mud, the petting farm, and the milking parlour, it delves in deeper topics, but peppers everything with a pinch of Irish humor. A debut novel that indeed kept me guessing till the end, looking forward to reading more from the author.
May 17, 2023
I’m a sucker for a complicated family drama; add a plot twist or three, and I’m all over it.
Michelle McDonagh’s debut begins with Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy, owners of Glenbeg Farm Park, being found dead in their slurry pit. Is this an unfortunate accident, or have we foul play going on? Ara, sure, Ursula has more than a few potential enemies as she’s a ‘pure wagon’, but Jimmy, he’s loved by all, isn’t he?
This farm is a busy place. Not only are there multiple employees and extended family who visit, but living there are the couples daughter Christina who is struggling with her mental health, son Rob, his wife Kate and their two smallies.
Rob and Kate never envisaged life on the farm, but they begrudgingly gave up their dreams of Stateside legal careers when Rob’s older brother Mark took his own life so that they could support the running of the family business. They’re stressed, overworked, underpaid and feel unappreciated by Ursula who wants more from them at every opportunity.
The Gardaí quickly discover that the CCTV in that part of the farm had been deactivated the night before. Plus, what reason has Jimmy — the farming side of this couple — to have unlocked and activated the slurry tank, as it’s the wrong time of year? Maybe his recently diagnosed dementia was much worse than thought. Maybe there’s grudges held which have erupted into criminal acts.
Told chiefly from Kate’s point of view, plus a few chapters from Ursula and Jimmy, as the investigation proceeds, McDonagh flits around in time, allowing the history and secrets of our main characters to be slowly unfurled. And sure, lookit, they’ve all enough skeletons in the cupboard but are any motive enough for murder?
If there’s one overriding message in this book, it’s the value of being kind to one another and appreciating life’s tiny joys. You never know when karma might just bite back.
Overall, this is a promising read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing, but it lacks some finesse; however, I can see it working very well on screen, though - RTE, are you listening?
If you enjoyed Graham Nortons The Holding, this read is for you. 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in return for an, as always, honest review.
Michelle McDonagh’s debut begins with Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy, owners of Glenbeg Farm Park, being found dead in their slurry pit. Is this an unfortunate accident, or have we foul play going on? Ara, sure, Ursula has more than a few potential enemies as she’s a ‘pure wagon’, but Jimmy, he’s loved by all, isn’t he?
This farm is a busy place. Not only are there multiple employees and extended family who visit, but living there are the couples daughter Christina who is struggling with her mental health, son Rob, his wife Kate and their two smallies.
Rob and Kate never envisaged life on the farm, but they begrudgingly gave up their dreams of Stateside legal careers when Rob’s older brother Mark took his own life so that they could support the running of the family business. They’re stressed, overworked, underpaid and feel unappreciated by Ursula who wants more from them at every opportunity.
The Gardaí quickly discover that the CCTV in that part of the farm had been deactivated the night before. Plus, what reason has Jimmy — the farming side of this couple — to have unlocked and activated the slurry tank, as it’s the wrong time of year? Maybe his recently diagnosed dementia was much worse than thought. Maybe there’s grudges held which have erupted into criminal acts.
Told chiefly from Kate’s point of view, plus a few chapters from Ursula and Jimmy, as the investigation proceeds, McDonagh flits around in time, allowing the history and secrets of our main characters to be slowly unfurled. And sure, lookit, they’ve all enough skeletons in the cupboard but are any motive enough for murder?
If there’s one overriding message in this book, it’s the value of being kind to one another and appreciating life’s tiny joys. You never know when karma might just bite back.
Overall, this is a promising read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing, but it lacks some finesse; however, I can see it working very well on screen, though - RTE, are you listening?
If you enjoyed Graham Nortons The Holding, this read is for you. 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in return for an, as always, honest review.
July 31, 2023
I gave it 3 and thought it was just ok, an awful lot going on, it was a who dunnit and why - I did work out the who and why which is fine - couple of things I didn’t like - didn’t seem to support women working . Having said that I really liked how the characters were deveoped
October 24, 2025
lots of strong/complex female characters, which I love. felt a little like knives out in that you think you more or less know what happened pretty early on (I started to think Jim pulled off a murder-suicide after the power of attorney thing like 25% of the way into the book) but the twists of the exact how and why he did it were still interesting and a good payoff. the writing felt a little choppy at times, especially with transitions and time jumps, but then again that could’ve just been the formatting being off because of the way in which I acquired the book. all in all, good read, and I’ll probably check out more of the author’s work down the line!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
A farm accident, buried family secrets. The elderly owners of a thriving farm and visitor attraction die in a horrible manner, leaving behind 3 adult children, their partners and their grandchildren. Soon after, awful family secrets come to light. It’s a good story, I was invested in it, but I did see the ending coming from early on. Nonetheless, it was a good read, but maybe not one I’ll remember in the future, therefore an average 3 out of 5 stars
October 11, 2023
A lovely little whodunnit, quintessentially Irish with some excellent turn of phrase.
July 10, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
August 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pacy rural noir at its finest, Michelle McDonagh’s ‘There’s Something I Have to Tell You’, is a juicy addictive read which basks in the dark underbelly of family life.
McDonagh, a former journalist, explodes into the realm of crime fiction with a cracking opening- on a wealthy East Galway farm two bodies lie dead in a toxic slurry pit. At first glance the demise of business matriarch Ursula Kennedy and her husband Jimmy seems to be a tragic accident, but amid rumours of family tensions over money and land eldest son Rob is suddenly chief suspect, with his wife Kate left bereft. The question is posed – was this a tragic accident or murder?
Teeming with suspense, the novel plummets into abject darkness from the start – sucker-punching the reader into a myriad of grief and horror. For those reading this from abroad, meeting one’s demise in a slurry pit may suspend all belief, but it is a frighteningly common way to die on a farm and by using the concept lies the central tenant of the novels power.
Psychological thrillers are a well-worn trope, with a formulaic consistency of drama, motive, and a plot that unfurls the whodunit. McDonagh enlivens the genre in three ways – unique scene setting, journalistic eye to seer into the headlines for inspiration and colloquial language of a rural farming community.
All three converge to open up a refreshing and previously untapped world for the reader, stepping back from the usual saturated suburban background.
Cleverly paced, the novel moves deftly between the present and the past, providing well drawn characterisation and backstory for the female protagonists – Ursula and Kate. This deep dive showcases the universal nature of grief and how it can motivate desires and build rock hard tropes of value.
As with all psychological thrillers, the race is on to find out what happened. For this, McDonagh must be commended. Her plot twists into every imaginable turn, keeping the reader guessing to the end. A hugely enjoyable read – and one that places the West firmly on the spectral map.
#bookstagram #irishbookreviewer #irishbookstagram #irishbooks #irishbookstas @mcdonagh.michelle
Pacy rural noir at its finest, Michelle McDonagh’s ‘There’s Something I Have to Tell You’, is a juicy addictive read which basks in the dark underbelly of family life.
McDonagh, a former journalist, explodes into the realm of crime fiction with a cracking opening- on a wealthy East Galway farm two bodies lie dead in a toxic slurry pit. At first glance the demise of business matriarch Ursula Kennedy and her husband Jimmy seems to be a tragic accident, but amid rumours of family tensions over money and land eldest son Rob is suddenly chief suspect, with his wife Kate left bereft. The question is posed – was this a tragic accident or murder?
Teeming with suspense, the novel plummets into abject darkness from the start – sucker-punching the reader into a myriad of grief and horror. For those reading this from abroad, meeting one’s demise in a slurry pit may suspend all belief, but it is a frighteningly common way to die on a farm and by using the concept lies the central tenant of the novels power.
Psychological thrillers are a well-worn trope, with a formulaic consistency of drama, motive, and a plot that unfurls the whodunit. McDonagh enlivens the genre in three ways – unique scene setting, journalistic eye to seer into the headlines for inspiration and colloquial language of a rural farming community.
All three converge to open up a refreshing and previously untapped world for the reader, stepping back from the usual saturated suburban background.
Cleverly paced, the novel moves deftly between the present and the past, providing well drawn characterisation and backstory for the female protagonists – Ursula and Kate. This deep dive showcases the universal nature of grief and how it can motivate desires and build rock hard tropes of value.
As with all psychological thrillers, the race is on to find out what happened. For this, McDonagh must be commended. Her plot twists into every imaginable turn, keeping the reader guessing to the end. A hugely enjoyable read – and one that places the West firmly on the spectral map.
#bookstagram #irishbookreviewer #irishbookstagram #irishbooks #irishbookstas @mcdonagh.michelle
February 22, 2023
3.75/5
There's trouble at the Kennedy Farm - the dog is barking, and there's not a sight to be seen of matriarch and prominent businesswoman Ursula Kennedy or her farmer husband James.
When the alarm is raised, Ursula's daughter in law Kate and son Rob soon have their worst fears confirmed when two bodies are found in the slurry pit.
As family secrets are pulled to the surface, everyone has something they want to keep hidden - Christina, the youngest Kennedy daughter, is already struggling with her mental health. If she tells anyone what she knows, the consequences could be devastating.
Kate and Rob had been arguing with Ursula over a barn conversion, but neither of them would resort to a double murder. Would they?
I enjoyed this dramatic family thriller set on a farm in Ireland. Rows over land and property aren't uncommon, and I felt the plot was believable and the characters all had their own reasons for behaving the way they did (apart from one, who was just a pure weapon).
There was one element of the story I wasn't fond of, and wish it hadn't been included, but otherwise I liked how the story developed. I read it over a couple of train journeys and found it to be a great travel companion. I think that Graham Norton fans would enjoy it, it had a similar vibe to how he weaves a story, although the themes are a little darker.
Bonus points for the inclusion of the word "foosthered" which I hadn't heard in ages and have been very much enjoying adding back into my lexicon!
Thank you to @hachetteireland for the ARC via Netgalley. This is Michelle's debut novel and is available for pre-order now wherever you buy your books, it'll be released on April 13th.
There's trouble at the Kennedy Farm - the dog is barking, and there's not a sight to be seen of matriarch and prominent businesswoman Ursula Kennedy or her farmer husband James.
When the alarm is raised, Ursula's daughter in law Kate and son Rob soon have their worst fears confirmed when two bodies are found in the slurry pit.
As family secrets are pulled to the surface, everyone has something they want to keep hidden - Christina, the youngest Kennedy daughter, is already struggling with her mental health. If she tells anyone what she knows, the consequences could be devastating.
Kate and Rob had been arguing with Ursula over a barn conversion, but neither of them would resort to a double murder. Would they?
I enjoyed this dramatic family thriller set on a farm in Ireland. Rows over land and property aren't uncommon, and I felt the plot was believable and the characters all had their own reasons for behaving the way they did (apart from one, who was just a pure weapon).
There was one element of the story I wasn't fond of, and wish it hadn't been included, but otherwise I liked how the story developed. I read it over a couple of train journeys and found it to be a great travel companion. I think that Graham Norton fans would enjoy it, it had a similar vibe to how he weaves a story, although the themes are a little darker.
Bonus points for the inclusion of the word "foosthered" which I hadn't heard in ages and have been very much enjoying adding back into my lexicon!
Thank you to @hachetteireland for the ARC via Netgalley. This is Michelle's debut novel and is available for pre-order now wherever you buy your books, it'll be released on April 13th.
December 18, 2023
dnf after 30%
December 22, 2023
An original story that could have been a gem of a book if it weren’t for the cringy and awful writing. One extra star for keeping me hooked
January 6, 2024
Poor writing and very predictable.
April 13, 2023
‘On Glenbeg Farm, it was a sunny morning like any other. Only the distressed bark of beloved collie Samson hinted that all was not well’
There’s Something I Have To Tell You by Michelle McDonagh published today, April 13th, with Hachette Ireland. The tagline for this book is – ‘Long-buried family secrets fight their way to the surface in this compelling mystery' – and can I just say that this seriously is a very compelling read. Michelle McDonagh has found inspiration in a slurry pit (yes I did say a slurry pit!) and brought us all this riveting debut, set against an agricultural background and featuring the finest cast of characters. When I finished reading it, I referred to it as being a rural Succession. The toxicity radiating from one particular individual would give the Roy family a run for their money.
In recent years we have all read multiple psychological thrillers. Unfortunately, on occasion, a sense of déjà vu can set in. This time around, it really was a very refreshing experience to pick up a book that felt different, a book that felt out on its own, with its unique take on an old tale. There is nothing new about internal strife on a farm following a death but Michelle McDonagh has put her own twist on this old story. She has created a tangled and tense mystery, with a matriarch from hell and a family with many secrets to tell.
Glenbeg Farm developed and expanded over the years under the stewardship of Ursula Kennedy. When she married into the Kennedy family with Jimmy, Ursula took control of the financial side of the business. Ursula had a great head for ideas and was very successful. She developed one of the first open farms in the country at that time and made very canny and sound investments. Ursula loved the limelight. She looked after herself, keeping regular beauty appointments and dressing with a great sense of style at all times. Jimmy was a farmer. Life for Jimmy was his animals and the farm. Born and bred in a rural environment, Jimmy had no time for the trappings of life. With Ursula, he had three children, Mark, Rob and Christine and for many years he gave off the illusion of contentment.
Following a tragic event on the farm, Rob, and his wife Kate, put a stop to their fledgling careers and returned home to help out at Glenbeg. Now, many years later, with small children of their own, life is beginning to be a challenge and Kate is at her wits end. This was not the future with Rob that she had hoped and dreamed of. Meanwhile, Rob’s sister, Christine, is a shadow of her former self, a highly sensitive individual, who struggles with living, struggles to survive.
Glenbeg Farm, and all the local community, are left reeling when Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy go missing one day, only to be found at the bottom of the slurry pit. Shock, grief and anger take hold as those left behind seeking answers. When the local Gardaí start to probe deeper, attention is turned toward the family. Is there a murderer in their midst? What really happened on that tragic day? How did Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy end up dead in a normally protected slurry pit?
As the chapters unfold, a picture slowly starts to reveal itself of a dysfunctional family with some dark, dark secrets in its past. The plot thickens, the tension mounts and a wonderfully complex portrayal of familial relationships is developed.
Michelle McDonagh has been writing, in some form or other, for over 25 years and this experience has clearly stood to her. I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing, engaging and cleverly convoluted tale of an agricultural family with rot at its core, just like the apples displayed on the cover. Although based in Ireland, this story could be set anywhere. Land is central to many disputes, with families at loggerheads the world over as inheritances are fought over, with internal rivalries destroying many relationships.
There’s Something I have to Tell You is a superbly crafted mystery, a seriously clever debut. It is an original tale highlighting the volatility of family relationships and the invisible ties that hold them together, written with a controlled and expert hand. Bravo Michelle McDonagh!
There’s Something I Have To Tell You by Michelle McDonagh published today, April 13th, with Hachette Ireland. The tagline for this book is – ‘Long-buried family secrets fight their way to the surface in this compelling mystery' – and can I just say that this seriously is a very compelling read. Michelle McDonagh has found inspiration in a slurry pit (yes I did say a slurry pit!) and brought us all this riveting debut, set against an agricultural background and featuring the finest cast of characters. When I finished reading it, I referred to it as being a rural Succession. The toxicity radiating from one particular individual would give the Roy family a run for their money.
In recent years we have all read multiple psychological thrillers. Unfortunately, on occasion, a sense of déjà vu can set in. This time around, it really was a very refreshing experience to pick up a book that felt different, a book that felt out on its own, with its unique take on an old tale. There is nothing new about internal strife on a farm following a death but Michelle McDonagh has put her own twist on this old story. She has created a tangled and tense mystery, with a matriarch from hell and a family with many secrets to tell.
Glenbeg Farm developed and expanded over the years under the stewardship of Ursula Kennedy. When she married into the Kennedy family with Jimmy, Ursula took control of the financial side of the business. Ursula had a great head for ideas and was very successful. She developed one of the first open farms in the country at that time and made very canny and sound investments. Ursula loved the limelight. She looked after herself, keeping regular beauty appointments and dressing with a great sense of style at all times. Jimmy was a farmer. Life for Jimmy was his animals and the farm. Born and bred in a rural environment, Jimmy had no time for the trappings of life. With Ursula, he had three children, Mark, Rob and Christine and for many years he gave off the illusion of contentment.
Following a tragic event on the farm, Rob, and his wife Kate, put a stop to their fledgling careers and returned home to help out at Glenbeg. Now, many years later, with small children of their own, life is beginning to be a challenge and Kate is at her wits end. This was not the future with Rob that she had hoped and dreamed of. Meanwhile, Rob’s sister, Christine, is a shadow of her former self, a highly sensitive individual, who struggles with living, struggles to survive.
Glenbeg Farm, and all the local community, are left reeling when Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy go missing one day, only to be found at the bottom of the slurry pit. Shock, grief and anger take hold as those left behind seeking answers. When the local Gardaí start to probe deeper, attention is turned toward the family. Is there a murderer in their midst? What really happened on that tragic day? How did Ursula and Jimmy Kennedy end up dead in a normally protected slurry pit?
As the chapters unfold, a picture slowly starts to reveal itself of a dysfunctional family with some dark, dark secrets in its past. The plot thickens, the tension mounts and a wonderfully complex portrayal of familial relationships is developed.
Michelle McDonagh has been writing, in some form or other, for over 25 years and this experience has clearly stood to her. I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing, engaging and cleverly convoluted tale of an agricultural family with rot at its core, just like the apples displayed on the cover. Although based in Ireland, this story could be set anywhere. Land is central to many disputes, with families at loggerheads the world over as inheritances are fought over, with internal rivalries destroying many relationships.
There’s Something I have to Tell You is a superbly crafted mystery, a seriously clever debut. It is an original tale highlighting the volatility of family relationships and the invisible ties that hold them together, written with a controlled and expert hand. Bravo Michelle McDonagh!
April 23, 2024
An unputdownable dark family drama and a real gem in the genre. I highly recommend it.
When a story questions early, what happened – whodunit, and why, you know you have a gem of a read in your hands. And, There’s Something I Have To Tell You has all of the above in spades. Pun intended for a farm-based story. And, There’s Something I Have To Tell You has all of the above in spades. Pun intended for a farm-based story.
With a cast of captivating characters and one as toxic as the fumes of any agitated slurry, this story grabbed me and held me firmly in its grip. Michelle’s use of language and turn of phrase left it a pleasure to read. I felt at home in the story from page one. Actually, from the opening lines – It was the dog who raise the alarm first. Or tried to at least.
That automatically draws you into the scene of urgency. Anyone who has a canine friend knows if you hear frantic dog barking there’s something amiss, bigtime. The pace kicks off right there and never lets up.
There is so much I loved about this book it’s hard to know where to begin, but, let me kick off with the authors ability to blend family drama and whodunit with such ease. It takes the genre and drops it firmly into the farming community of East Galway in rural Ireland.
All family units have their difficulties and the Kennedy’s were no different. And when Glenbeg’s owner, James (Jimmy) Kennedy, recently diagnosed with dementia, goes missing, his family rush to alert his wife, Ursula; only to discover she too is missing.
And just as agitating slurry is a hazardous activity because the gases released are heavier than air and can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation – the same is true for family secrets. When they rise, they’re toxic.
It rapidly becomes apparent that everyone has something they wish to keep hidden. And as with the release of the gasses in the slurry pit – once stirred there is no going back. All standing in the danger zone are at threat to go down.
It transpires that Kate and Rob had been arguing with Ursula over a barn conversion that was meant to be their home after finding out that Ursula, first and foremost the businesswoman, had other plans for it. But surely that isn’t reason enough to kill her. And in such a horrendous way. Or, is it? They had, after all, put a stop to their fledgling careers and returned home to help out at Glenbeg following a tragic event on the farm. A long cry from the life they had envisaged for themselves, and resentment can do strange things to a person.
The youngest daughter, Christina, is already struggling with her mental health. If she tells anyone what she knows, the consequences could be beyond devastating.
It's family drama personified that would leave you wanting to murder Ursula Kennedy yourself. Sometimes you come across characters you love to hate but with her, I just hated her, simple as – in the, oh that character is getting under my skin, kind of way. You just have to turn the page to see who, what, why and how she gets her comeuppance.
Mc Donagh’s penmanship is excellent with some lines that really caught my heart and others that made me giggle. I reread this over the weekend on my kindle so I could refresh what it was I loved about it the first-time round. And it was just as enjoyable, I might add. In fact, I highlighted even more than I had originally.
Debut par excellence, Michelle – it’s no wonder it hit the bestsellers list so fast.
There’s Something I have to Tell You is a superbly crafted dark family drama, a seriously clever debut. It is an original tale highlighting the volatility of family relationships and the invisible ties that hold them together, written with a controlled and expert hand. Bravo, Michelle McDonagh!
When a story questions early, what happened – whodunit, and why, you know you have a gem of a read in your hands. And, There’s Something I Have To Tell You has all of the above in spades. Pun intended for a farm-based story. And, There’s Something I Have To Tell You has all of the above in spades. Pun intended for a farm-based story.
With a cast of captivating characters and one as toxic as the fumes of any agitated slurry, this story grabbed me and held me firmly in its grip. Michelle’s use of language and turn of phrase left it a pleasure to read. I felt at home in the story from page one. Actually, from the opening lines – It was the dog who raise the alarm first. Or tried to at least.
That automatically draws you into the scene of urgency. Anyone who has a canine friend knows if you hear frantic dog barking there’s something amiss, bigtime. The pace kicks off right there and never lets up.
There is so much I loved about this book it’s hard to know where to begin, but, let me kick off with the authors ability to blend family drama and whodunit with such ease. It takes the genre and drops it firmly into the farming community of East Galway in rural Ireland.
All family units have their difficulties and the Kennedy’s were no different. And when Glenbeg’s owner, James (Jimmy) Kennedy, recently diagnosed with dementia, goes missing, his family rush to alert his wife, Ursula; only to discover she too is missing.
And just as agitating slurry is a hazardous activity because the gases released are heavier than air and can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation – the same is true for family secrets. When they rise, they’re toxic.
It rapidly becomes apparent that everyone has something they wish to keep hidden. And as with the release of the gasses in the slurry pit – once stirred there is no going back. All standing in the danger zone are at threat to go down.
It transpires that Kate and Rob had been arguing with Ursula over a barn conversion that was meant to be their home after finding out that Ursula, first and foremost the businesswoman, had other plans for it. But surely that isn’t reason enough to kill her. And in such a horrendous way. Or, is it? They had, after all, put a stop to their fledgling careers and returned home to help out at Glenbeg following a tragic event on the farm. A long cry from the life they had envisaged for themselves, and resentment can do strange things to a person.
The youngest daughter, Christina, is already struggling with her mental health. If she tells anyone what she knows, the consequences could be beyond devastating.
It's family drama personified that would leave you wanting to murder Ursula Kennedy yourself. Sometimes you come across characters you love to hate but with her, I just hated her, simple as – in the, oh that character is getting under my skin, kind of way. You just have to turn the page to see who, what, why and how she gets her comeuppance.
Mc Donagh’s penmanship is excellent with some lines that really caught my heart and others that made me giggle. I reread this over the weekend on my kindle so I could refresh what it was I loved about it the first-time round. And it was just as enjoyable, I might add. In fact, I highlighted even more than I had originally.
Debut par excellence, Michelle – it’s no wonder it hit the bestsellers list so fast.
There’s Something I have to Tell You is a superbly crafted dark family drama, a seriously clever debut. It is an original tale highlighting the volatility of family relationships and the invisible ties that hold them together, written with a controlled and expert hand. Bravo, Michelle McDonagh!
May 7, 2023
While on Dublin, I discovered this book in the new Irish crime section and I had to devour it in one go. I loved the suspanse atmosphere created by the author, the who did it mistery and also the way she gave depth to the characters.
The story is starting with Jimmy and Ursula whom are to be found in the slurry pit on the grounds of their first in Ireland open farmhouse. From there the story is told on turns by Christina, their daughter which is currently back on living with her parents while struggling with mental issues, Rob, their second born, who studied law but came back to help his father with the farm when Mark, his older brother killed himself at 22, Kate, Rob’s wife, and Ursula and Jimmy themselves at times.
There are multiple other characters in the book, but the author presents in depth Christina and Ursula, followed by Kate and Rob.
There are so many topics that the author touched upon: from infidelity, to suicide, child abuse, death sentence, etc. Some of them are having more perspectives and are presented from different angles or across generations/ decades, while for others just the surface is touched. Nevertheless, I did not mind that while she went into trying to present Peter and Ursula from a different perspective other than aggresors, other topics remained at a shallow level.
Ursula is written as a strong feminine character, who tried to hard to overcome poverty, shame and trauma, but which undoubtly remains broken and with no will or widsom in realising what that can impregnate on her life.
I liked a lot the twist I had as a reader with Jimmy’s character which up until very late in the book is written to be liked by everybody, but ultimately without your will, you must admit part of the guilt is his as well.
I absolutly loved reading the book and I am looking forward for more from this author.
The story is starting with Jimmy and Ursula whom are to be found in the slurry pit on the grounds of their first in Ireland open farmhouse. From there the story is told on turns by Christina, their daughter which is currently back on living with her parents while struggling with mental issues, Rob, their second born, who studied law but came back to help his father with the farm when Mark, his older brother killed himself at 22, Kate, Rob’s wife, and Ursula and Jimmy themselves at times.
There are multiple other characters in the book, but the author presents in depth Christina and Ursula, followed by Kate and Rob.
There are so many topics that the author touched upon: from infidelity, to suicide, child abuse, death sentence, etc. Some of them are having more perspectives and are presented from different angles or across generations/ decades, while for others just the surface is touched. Nevertheless, I did not mind that while she went into trying to present Peter and Ursula from a different perspective other than aggresors, other topics remained at a shallow level.
Ursula is written as a strong feminine character, who tried to hard to overcome poverty, shame and trauma, but which undoubtly remains broken and with no will or widsom in realising what that can impregnate on her life.
I liked a lot the twist I had as a reader with Jimmy’s character which up until very late in the book is written to be liked by everybody, but ultimately without your will, you must admit part of the guilt is his as well.
I absolutly loved reading the book and I am looking forward for more from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2023
When landowner/farmer James (Jimmy) Kennedy, who has recently been diagnosed with dementia, goes missing, family members rush to alert his wife, Ursula; only to discover that she, too, has disappeared. Despite, initially, appearing, to local police, that a tragic accident may have befallen the couple, local rumour, gossip and speculation soon have the Gardai looking closely at son Rob and his wife Kate.
This family drama/whodunit is told, in third person narrative alternating between events leading up to, and subsequent to the fateful day. Chapters are told from the perspective of various members of the Kennedy clan, all of whom have something that they'd rather the investigating officers didn't know.
There's Something I Have To Tell You had me gripped from start to finish. My engagement with, and enjoyment of, this book was definitely enhanced by my familiarity with the settings, characters and cultural references. The story is set on a working farm and farm park in Co. Galway, and it was easy to picture this as the one my grandson often visits. The Kennedys could be my neighbours. The description of University Hospital Galway could only have been written by someone who has been there, and who, in Ireland, isn't familiar with the gossips, the begrudgers and the folks with 'notions'?
However, on review, it occurs to me that the elements which appealed to me, and that I identified with, might mean that the appeal to a wider audience (outside Ireland or even the west of Ireland) might be diminished. For this reason, I've given this one 4 stars (4.5 for my subjective experience and maybe 3.75 objectively.
This family drama/whodunit is told, in third person narrative alternating between events leading up to, and subsequent to the fateful day. Chapters are told from the perspective of various members of the Kennedy clan, all of whom have something that they'd rather the investigating officers didn't know.
There's Something I Have To Tell You had me gripped from start to finish. My engagement with, and enjoyment of, this book was definitely enhanced by my familiarity with the settings, characters and cultural references. The story is set on a working farm and farm park in Co. Galway, and it was easy to picture this as the one my grandson often visits. The Kennedys could be my neighbours. The description of University Hospital Galway could only have been written by someone who has been there, and who, in Ireland, isn't familiar with the gossips, the begrudgers and the folks with 'notions'?
However, on review, it occurs to me that the elements which appealed to me, and that I identified with, might mean that the appeal to a wider audience (outside Ireland or even the west of Ireland) might be diminished. For this reason, I've given this one 4 stars (4.5 for my subjective experience and maybe 3.75 objectively.
June 28, 2023
Home is where the secrets are buried.
I loved this amazing debut move by yet another talented Irish author. Set on a farm in the west of Ireland, McDonagh tells a gripping story.
The Kennedy’s are a wealthy family in the fictional town of Glenbeg in county Galway. Running a successful dairy farm as well as a farm park as a tourist destination, the town is shocked when Ursula and Jimmy are found dead in the farm’s slurry pit. Tragic accident or something more sinister? It wouldn’t be a thriller if it was the former, now would it?
We begin to slowly unravel the many secrets buried on that land; the tragic death of Ursula and Jimmy’s eldest son Mark, which brought their middle son Rob home to help mind the farm along with his wife Kate. Ursula’s difficult past she refuses to talk about, the strange absence of Ursula’s only brother Peter at the funeral.
The narration moves along nicely, dropping hints at a steady pace to keep you reading well past your bedtime. I am aware this was never marketed as having a feminist slant, but would it be too much to ask to have one female character (not a villain) portrayed as being fulfilled by things other than family/relationship?
Also a very minor thing (I think there were only 2 references to it in the whole novel) but the spelling of “eejit” with a g instead of a j (“eegit”) bugged me to no end and yes, I know this is trivial!
All in all, a fabulous addition to the host of Irish authors to keep us reading until we find out who dunnit!
I loved this amazing debut move by yet another talented Irish author. Set on a farm in the west of Ireland, McDonagh tells a gripping story.
The Kennedy’s are a wealthy family in the fictional town of Glenbeg in county Galway. Running a successful dairy farm as well as a farm park as a tourist destination, the town is shocked when Ursula and Jimmy are found dead in the farm’s slurry pit. Tragic accident or something more sinister? It wouldn’t be a thriller if it was the former, now would it?
We begin to slowly unravel the many secrets buried on that land; the tragic death of Ursula and Jimmy’s eldest son Mark, which brought their middle son Rob home to help mind the farm along with his wife Kate. Ursula’s difficult past she refuses to talk about, the strange absence of Ursula’s only brother Peter at the funeral.
The narration moves along nicely, dropping hints at a steady pace to keep you reading well past your bedtime. I am aware this was never marketed as having a feminist slant, but would it be too much to ask to have one female character (not a villain) portrayed as being fulfilled by things other than family/relationship?
Also a very minor thing (I think there were only 2 references to it in the whole novel) but the spelling of “eejit” with a g instead of a j (“eegit”) bugged me to no end and yes, I know this is trivial!
All in all, a fabulous addition to the host of Irish authors to keep us reading until we find out who dunnit!
April 29, 2023
The title of There's Something I Have to Tell You hints at secrets that are buried deep - as well as the kind of truths that often lurk just beneath the surface. And this finely-textured novel delivers plentifully on both.
Set in contemporary Ireland, the story delves into the tensions that often exist in extended family life, however much people may sometimes wish to pretend otherwise. Just how damaging this kind of denial can be is brilliantly demonstrated in this masterful novel.
The small town of Glenbeg is reeling from the shocking deaths of Jimmy and Ursula Kennedy, a well-liked local farmer and his rather less popular entrepreneur wife. The mystery of how it happened, and the revelations about how people actually feel about Ursula, complicate matters further.
While most people in Glenbeg are not aware of Ursula's humble beginnings, her poverty-stricken childhood fuelled her aspirations to create a different lifestyle for her own family, and was also a major factor behind the business empire that Ursula built by utilising the resources of the family that she married into. But her snobbish behaviour and her relentless greed inevitably alienated many people. Not that Ursula ever cared what people thought of her!
Her husband Jimmy was known to be in the early stages of dementia, but no one is able to explain how their bodies were found in an odd location on their family farm - namely, the slurry pit, which should not have been operational at the time.
Along with the general dislike that had long been felt towards her, Ursula was not known for her gentle treatment of family members either, the one exception being her problematic brother.
Her eldest son Mark committed suicide under mysterious circumstances a few years before his parents' deaths, and her sensitive daughter Christina has been irrevocably damaged by Ursula's lack of maternal warmth.
Clearly no contender for Mother of the Year, Ursula also repeatedly broke her promises to her second son Robert and his wife Kate, who lived on the farm and worked alongside the older couple. Their marriage was on the verge of disintegration immediately prior to the two corpses being found at the farm, so it could truthfully be said that Ursula's death gave Kate and Robert a second chance at working out their relationship.
Despite an initial wave of sympathy, questions are quickly raised about the possible role played by the Kennedy family members in the death of the matriarch and her husband.
There are family secrets aplenty, as well as those who fear the discovery of them, but is it really reasonable to think that Jimmy and Ursula's awful deaths could be laid at the door of any of their nearest and dearest?
What I loved about There's Something I Have to Tell You is that it combines the intrigue of a suspense novel with a high level of psychological insight, and the kind of skilful character development that is all too rare - especially in a first novel.
Too often, all that a suspenseful domestic drama offers is a sense of growing tension and a series of plot twists. By contrast, this story is well-written and feels more like easy-to-read literary fiction. But it also delivers some thrilling plot twists, and works well as a compelling murder mystery.
The author, Michelle McDonagh, does an excellent job of keeping readers engaged without resorting to sensationalism or stretching credulity in any way. This is one of those debut novels that has clearly been brewing in the writer's mind for some time, and readers will benefit from the maturity of the narrative.
The final chapters of the novel sharply pick up the pace, and as layer upon layer of the truth emerges, the cleverness of the storytelling becomes increasingly evident.
The suspense in this book is initially more of a gradual unfolding, but it firmly holds the reader's attention throughout. And it is safe to say that things get a lot more complicated before they get simpler...
Set in contemporary Ireland, the story delves into the tensions that often exist in extended family life, however much people may sometimes wish to pretend otherwise. Just how damaging this kind of denial can be is brilliantly demonstrated in this masterful novel.
The small town of Glenbeg is reeling from the shocking deaths of Jimmy and Ursula Kennedy, a well-liked local farmer and his rather less popular entrepreneur wife. The mystery of how it happened, and the revelations about how people actually feel about Ursula, complicate matters further.
While most people in Glenbeg are not aware of Ursula's humble beginnings, her poverty-stricken childhood fuelled her aspirations to create a different lifestyle for her own family, and was also a major factor behind the business empire that Ursula built by utilising the resources of the family that she married into. But her snobbish behaviour and her relentless greed inevitably alienated many people. Not that Ursula ever cared what people thought of her!
Her husband Jimmy was known to be in the early stages of dementia, but no one is able to explain how their bodies were found in an odd location on their family farm - namely, the slurry pit, which should not have been operational at the time.
Along with the general dislike that had long been felt towards her, Ursula was not known for her gentle treatment of family members either, the one exception being her problematic brother.
Her eldest son Mark committed suicide under mysterious circumstances a few years before his parents' deaths, and her sensitive daughter Christina has been irrevocably damaged by Ursula's lack of maternal warmth.
Clearly no contender for Mother of the Year, Ursula also repeatedly broke her promises to her second son Robert and his wife Kate, who lived on the farm and worked alongside the older couple. Their marriage was on the verge of disintegration immediately prior to the two corpses being found at the farm, so it could truthfully be said that Ursula's death gave Kate and Robert a second chance at working out their relationship.
Despite an initial wave of sympathy, questions are quickly raised about the possible role played by the Kennedy family members in the death of the matriarch and her husband.
There are family secrets aplenty, as well as those who fear the discovery of them, but is it really reasonable to think that Jimmy and Ursula's awful deaths could be laid at the door of any of their nearest and dearest?
What I loved about There's Something I Have to Tell You is that it combines the intrigue of a suspense novel with a high level of psychological insight, and the kind of skilful character development that is all too rare - especially in a first novel.
Too often, all that a suspenseful domestic drama offers is a sense of growing tension and a series of plot twists. By contrast, this story is well-written and feels more like easy-to-read literary fiction. But it also delivers some thrilling plot twists, and works well as a compelling murder mystery.
The author, Michelle McDonagh, does an excellent job of keeping readers engaged without resorting to sensationalism or stretching credulity in any way. This is one of those debut novels that has clearly been brewing in the writer's mind for some time, and readers will benefit from the maturity of the narrative.
The final chapters of the novel sharply pick up the pace, and as layer upon layer of the truth emerges, the cleverness of the storytelling becomes increasingly evident.
The suspense in this book is initially more of a gradual unfolding, but it firmly holds the reader's attention throughout. And it is safe to say that things get a lot more complicated before they get simpler...
May 21, 2023
Fabulous debut whodunnit novel.
Draws you in from the first line ‘It was the dog who raised the alarm first’ - to what?
Jimmy runs the family farm, while his wealthy wife, Ursula, has a business in town.
Panic sets in when their daughter, Christina visits the farm and can’t find either of them.
The door to the slurry pit is open and Jimmy has dementia, has he accidentally fallen in, and where is Ursula.
Was it just a tragic accident or is there something more sinister at play.
As you read further, you realise everything was not hunky dory on the Kennedy farm.
A fabulous page turner that keeps you guessing with multiple twists that reveal shocking secrets.
Well written and plotted with believable characters and showcasing how family dynamics can create toxic results.
Thanks @michellemcd @hachettebooks & @netgalley for the eARC
Draws you in from the first line ‘It was the dog who raised the alarm first’ - to what?
Jimmy runs the family farm, while his wealthy wife, Ursula, has a business in town.
Panic sets in when their daughter, Christina visits the farm and can’t find either of them.
The door to the slurry pit is open and Jimmy has dementia, has he accidentally fallen in, and where is Ursula.
Was it just a tragic accident or is there something more sinister at play.
As you read further, you realise everything was not hunky dory on the Kennedy farm.
A fabulous page turner that keeps you guessing with multiple twists that reveal shocking secrets.
Well written and plotted with believable characters and showcasing how family dynamics can create toxic results.
Thanks @michellemcd @hachettebooks & @netgalley for the eARC
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